Van Patrick | |
|---|---|
 Van Patrick in theDetroit Tigers broadcast booth (1957) | |
| Born | (1916-08-15)August 15, 1916 |
| Died | September 29, 1974(1974-09-29) (aged 58) |
| Other names | The Ole Announcer |
| Alma mater | Texas Christian University |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Teams |
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| Genre | Play-by-play |
| Sports | |
Van Patrick (August 15, 1916 – September 29, 1974) was anAmericansportscaster, best known for hisplay-by-play work with theDetroit Lions andDetroit Tigers.
Self-nicknamed "the Ole Announcer", Patrick called Lions games from1950 until his death in1974.[1] He had two stints with the Tigers, broadcasting for the team for one season in1949 and then again from1952 to1959.[2]
Patrick graduated fromTexas Christian University (TCU), where he played football with futureWashington Redskins quarterback andPro Football Hall of Fame inducteeSammy Baugh.[3] He also played baseball and basketball at TCU.
After graduating, he began his broadcast career as a baseball play-by-play announcer in various minor leagues, including theInternational League, theTexas League and the oldSouthern Association.[3] His first major league play-by-play broadcasting was with the world-champion-to-beCleveland Indians in 1948.[3] He also called theWorld Series along with celebrated sportscasterRed Barber.[3] Game 2 of that Series announced by Patrick, won by the Indians, made television history. Telecast live from Braves Field in Boston, it was shown aboard theBaltimore and Ohio Railroad'sMarylander passenger train travelling betweenWashington, D.C., andNew York City using a receiver operated byBendix Corporation technicians.[4] AnAssociated Press reporter observing the demonstration said, "Technically, it was surprisingly good."[4]
From 1949 to 1953, Patrick was sports director at Detroit stationWJR.[3] During the 1960s and 1970s, he was sports director for theMutual Broadcasting System and broadcastNotre Dame football andMonday Night Football for the network. He also did TV sports news segments during news broadcasts on Detroit'sWJBK-TV. He was widely admired for his broadcasting skills during his radio heyday. He did not make the transition to television well, as he was naturally bald and insisted on wearing an inexpensive toupée in television appearances. "Van Patrick's toupée" was a source of many jokes in the Detroit area during that period.
Of special note, on March 8, 1971, along with Mutual colleague Charles King, Patrick handled the live broadcast of the Frazier–Ali "Fight of the Century" round-by-round summaries as they came out over the wire services.[5][6] At the time of his death in 1974, he owned four radio stations.[7] He died ofcancer while preparing to call a Notre Dame football game inSouth Bend, Indiana.
The Notre Dame Club of Chicago established the Van Patrick Award to honor Patrick's memory.[8] Patrick is a Past President of the Detroit Sports Media Association.
| Preceded by None | Monday Night Football national radio play-by-play announcer 1970–1973 | Succeeded by |